Pixar and the NHL Team Up for the ‘Inside Out” Classic Next Month

Disney, Pixar, and the NHL Team Up for Animated “Inside Out Classic” Hockey Broadcast

Disney, Pixar, ESPN, and the National Hockey League are teaming up for a unique sports experience next month with the debut of the “Inside Out Classic,” a real-time animated broadcast of the Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers game on April 5 at 7 PM ET.

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The special broadcast will transform the live NHL game into a colorful animated world inspired by Pixar’s Inside Out. Viewers will be able to watch the action unfold with animated versions of the players skating alongside beloved characters from the film, all set inside Riley’s mind on a whimsical location called Hockey Island. The animated telecast will stream on ESPN+, Disney+, Disney Channel, and Disney XD, while fans who prefer the traditional viewing experience can still watch the standard broadcast on ESPN.

The production uses advanced tracking technology to bring the animation to life in real time. Data from the NHL’s EDGE puck and player tracking system will combine with Sony’s Hawk-Eye optical tracking to capture detailed movements from the players on the ice. This technology allows the broadcast to recreate the action with animated players and characters moving naturally, right down to stick handling and skating motions.

Fans will also hear familiar voices from the Inside Out films during the broadcast. Voice actors including Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Lewis Black (Anger), Tony Hale (Fear), and Maya Hawke (Anxiety) will appear as part of the animated presentation. Meanwhile, ESPN commentators Drew Carter, Kevin Weekes, and Arda Öcal will call the action while wearing virtual reality headsets that place them directly inside the animated environment for motion capture.

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This continues ESPN’s growing lineup of animated sports broadcasts that use Disney intellectual property to bring games to life in new ways. A similar concept debuted in 2023 with the NHL Big City Greens Classic, which marked the first real-time volumetric animation presentation in sports.

The Inside Out Classic will also be available internationally on Disney+ across several regions including Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, with video-on-demand availability following the live broadcast in most markets.

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